Sad news

Nikki and I went to visit the vet today, and the news wasn't so good. The bump on her head that appeared on Thursday is definitely cancerous.

Right now we're more or less in hospice mode. There's nothing that we can do to cure Nikki, so we're just doing what we can to help her feel better, so that she and I can enjoy what time we have left together. To that end, she'll be taking some steriod pills that should reverse some of the ill effects we've been seeing. With any luck, after a day or two on them, she'll have some spring in her step and will be enjoying things more.

Dr. Kjelland couldn't give me any definite timelines, but it sounds like we're talking weeks or months rather than years.

I'm taking the news as well as can be expected, I think. I've suspected that this would be the case for several days, now, and have been preparing myself for this news. Right now, I'm more relieved that there's something we can do for her at all. I had worried that not only would we get a bad diagnosis, but that there wouldn't be anywhere to go but downhill. Nikki may eventually go downhill, but it sounds like it won't have to be right away, at least.

My parents are taking this pretty hard, though. It's probably different being far away, too, and not knowing if they'll get to see her again. I'm still hoping to be able to come home with Nikki for Christmas... I really want to have at least one Christmas in our new home, and then to go visit Mom and Dad with her.

As a pastor, I'm quite sure God doesn't mind prayers for dogs, so please go right ahead and pray. On behalf of Nikki - who'd thank you if she could - please accept our thanks.